Appetite for organic: Produce delivery returns to Gastonia

Gaston residents have a taste for organic fruits and veggies. The proof: A countywide clamor for the fresh stuff, says Backyard Produce founder Ben Stone.

Ragan Robinson

Gaston residents have a taste for organic fruits and veggies. The proof: A countywide clamor for the fresh stuff, says Backyard Produce founder Ben Stone.

His two-year-old online farmer’s market recently moved its home delivery services back into Gastonia. It’s a response to 100 orders in the city.

Stone pulled out of the Gastonia in the past because low demand couldn’t justify the trip here.

Backyard Produce, which delivers customizable boxes of fruit, vegetables, bread, cheese and other items such as coffee each week, has distribution in coastal communities, the Raleigh region and the area around Charlotte.

Gastonia is as far west as drivers make drops.

Stone, a finance major whose father owned a peach orchard, founded the small company in Raleigh two years ago.

“What we’re trying to do is build a community across the state,” he said. “I’m amazed every single day at how receptive people are to this.”

Leigh Brinkley sees the same openness to the idea of organic and local. She’s the manager for the Mount Holly Farmer’s Market, which will be in its eighth year this spring.

“I think we’re all trying to be more thoughtful about how we take care of ourselves and how we take care of our future,” she said.

Brinkley, who heads up one of Gaston’s six farmers’ markets, thinks there’s room for all the businesses on the fresh food scene.

A Facebook mention of the Backyard Produce expansion offered evidence of consumer appetite for organic. Fans of fresh groceries had reasons ranging from the ecological to the practical.

“The more I learn about … the environmental impact of purchasing foods (whether it’s produce or anything else) the more I’m convicted about being more intentional about buying more locally grown and organic foods,” said Steve Knight of Gastonia.

Dawn Whitten Jenkins likes the idea of putting more healthy produce on her family table. She also likes the prospect of doing so without going too far out of her way.

“The convenience of a delivery service bringing fresh, local produce to my door is something I find very, very appealing,” she writes.

Produce shoppers had complaints about the selection available in Gastonia supermarkets, too.

Wendy Cox Brignull said she already drives to Charlotte for organic groceries.

Supporting local farmers is another idea that finds fertile soil in North Carolina, said Stone.

The boxes Backyard Produce delivers are full of North Carolina and out-of-state edibles, but the company founder says the business is trying to pick up new farmers every day.

And the state, with its coastal plain, piedmont and mountain regions, has an extended growing season. That makes more offerings possible from inside North Carolina.

It also creates new customers for growers.

“We can extend the boundaries of the farmer,” said Stone.

More on Backyard Produce

You get: A box of organic produce, much of it North Carolina-grown, every week. Customers go online to choose what they want or let the company send a variety basket.